With more than 60 locations in Canada, and the #11 spot on entrepreneur.com’s 2017 Fastest Growing Franchises list, Orangetheory Fitness is taking the fitness world by storm. As the Vice President of Franchise Development & Operations, Hifa Maleki plays an active role in the success of the privately-owned fitness franchise, which offers group personal training workouts based on high-intensity interval training (HIIT), combining cardiovascular and strength training.
Here, Maleki shares with FranchiseCanada her advice for keeping a franchise system in tip-top shape, focusing on franchisees, who are at the core of any successful franchise system. Read on to learn more about her thoughts on the positive influence of mentoring, the value of patience and hard work, and the importance of unwinding outside with those you care about most.
The most interesting thing I’ve done recently is…
Make the decision to work with a career coach.
In its best form, work is…
FUN!
A good franchisee…
Loves the product and is connected to their investment. Franchisees who are present in their business and have the highest level of care tend to find the most success.
A good franchisor…
Cares deeply about the success of a franchisee, and understands the significant investment they’re making.
My top advice for prospective franchisees is…
Try before you buy, and make sure that you love the product and brand.
My top advice for new franchisors is…
Use your product. Know it well, know its benefits, and stay connected to your business.
The most important thing in life is…
Family.
One of the most enjoyable things to do is…
Spend time outside with good company and people who make you laugh.
The hardest thing for me to do is…
Disconnect! I love what I do and work is part of who I am, so turning it off can sometimes be a challenge.
My favourite drink is…
A well-made Americano.
If I could change one thing…
I would make people more patient and understanding. Everything today is so instant, and I think it would go a long way if we were all a little more tolerant and patient.
If I could meet anyone…
It would be Elon Musk. He’s so innovative, smart, and driven, and I would love to pick his brain. Ryan Gosling is a close second.
The person who has had the most positive influence on me as a businessperson is…
My sister. She has always been so ambitious and professional. I am so proud of her.
Canadian franchising is…
Considerate in the sense of caring about the communities that your franchise serves, as well as the franchisees who are buying into your brand.
My franchise system began because…
Ellen Latham, the Founder of Orangetheory Fitness, was dedicated to creating a fitness platform that worked and could change lives.
The most positive influence on my life is…
Having the opportunity to be a mentor. I’ve loved working with such a variety of unique and talented people over the years; it is so rewarding seeing them succeed in their careers.
The key to success is…
Work hard and love what you do.
I’d like my friends to describe me as…
Loyal, a good listener, and trustworthy. In reality, they would probably say I am the one with the weirdest sense of humour.
The accomplishment I look forward to the most is…
Seeing people that I have helped mentor succeed, both personally and professionally.
My personal motto is…
Be human, transparent, and open. People want to do business with people they trust.
One necessary item on my life’s “to do” list is…
To go to Scotland! I would love to go there to see castles and learn about their culture and history.